{{quote|[[Gandalf|You]] know of what I speak. An eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.|[[Saruman]]}}

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{{Merge|Sauron#Appearance}}

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[[Image:Eye of Sauron.jpg|thumb|The ''Eye of Sauron'' from [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]].]]

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{{quote|But suddenly the [[Mirror of Galadriel|Mirror]] went altogether dark, as dark as if a hole had been opened in the world of sight. . . In the abyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew, until it filled nearly all the Mirror. So terrible was it that [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze. The Eye was rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat's, watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing.|[[The Mirror of Galadriel]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''}}

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From the highest tower of [[Barad-dûr]], [[Sauron]] kept an unceasing watch on the lands and kingdoms of Middle-earth. The '[[Eye of Sauron]]' is a reference to this unsleeping vigilance. In the book it was described as a sort of red light from an upper window. In [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]] film version it was portrayed more literally as an eye, and had it moving between the pinnacles of the tower.

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[[File:John Howe - The Eye of Sauron 01.jpg|thumb|The ''Eye of Sauron'' as portrayed by [[John Howe]]]]

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The '''Eye of Sauron''', called by many various names, was the symbol of [[Sauron]] the Dark Lord. This symbol was adopted to show his unceasing vigilance and piercing perception, and was displayed on the weaponry of his servants, or at least the [[orcs]].

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==Portrayal in adaptations==

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'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''

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:The card "[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/card_id/53227/cards_lang/1 Eye of Sauron]" appeared in ''[[Middle-earth: The Wizards|The Wizards]]'' (the first set for the game), used as to improve the prowess of each automatic-attack against other players. "[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/card_id/54002/cards_lang/1 The Lidless Eye]" appeared in the set [[Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye|''The Lidless Eye'']], and can be used by players to enhance their general influence.<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.tradecardsonline.com/im/selectCard/game_id/20/goal/|articlename=Home page for the game Middle Earth|dated=|website=[http://www.tradecardsonline.com/ Trade Cards Online]|accessed=5 January 2012}}</ref>

:In [[Peter Jackson]]'s film adaptation, the Eye featured as a physical, living object between the pinnacles of [[Barad-dûr]]. It also literally searched the lands with a red light like a spotlight, and in the film the light could be seen constantly sweeping the lands. It was quenched when [[the One Ring]] was cast into [[Orodruin]].

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{{References}}

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[[Category:Signs and Symbols]]

Revision as of 16:41, 10 December 2012

"But suddenly the Mirror went altogether dark, as dark as if a hole had been opened in the world of sight. . . In the abyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew, until it filled nearly all the Mirror. So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze. The Eye was rimmed with fire, but was itself glazed, yellow as a cat's, watchful and intent, and the black slit of its pupil opened on a pit, a window into nothing."

The Eye of Sauron, called by many various names, was the symbol of Sauron the Dark Lord. This symbol was adopted to show his unceasing vigilance and piercing perception, and was displayed on the weaponry of his servants, or at least the orcs.

In Peter Jackson's film adaptation, the Eye featured as a physical, living object between the pinnacles of Barad-dûr. It also literally searched the lands with a red light like a spotlight, and in the film the light could be seen constantly sweeping the lands. It was quenched when the One Ring was cast into Orodruin.